We think of the words 'miracle' or 'breakthrough' and we probably gain a picture of overflowing finances, miraculous healing, great revival or people laughing and crying in the presence of God. Never do we think of small group or discipleship as a miracle. But looking at the way Jesus did ministry, the biggest miracles He ever performed were outputs of small group discipleship and not revivals amongst the multitudes.
A miracle is best defined as a remarkable event that changes your life forever. As a young Christian in kids Sunday school, one of my favourite stories in the Bible was when Jesus fed the thousands with a few pieces of bread and fish. Who wouldn't? It sounds spectacular and amazing.
But one time, I really thought about it and had to ask myself, "What did these people receive that day apart from a full stomach?" and more importantly, "Where were all of these people while Jesus was being crucified?" As amazing as the feeding of the five thousand, or the healing of thousands of demon-possessed and sick people were, not many of these thousands were transformed in a way that changed them forever.
The one thing that Jesus did do that had amazingly long-term implications was the miracle of small group discipleship. Mark 1:17 says, "And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men'" (ESV). The greatest miracle happened not when Jesus called out spirits and sickness to leave, but when He called a few men to follow Him.
Long after Jesus died, it wasn't the healed and fed who proclaimed Jesus to the nations and brought a spiritual revival to the whole world. It was first and foremost through the work of Christ, expressed by the few disciples whom Jesus spent time building relationships with, teaching the Word of God and imparting character and truth into.
I don't want to discredit healing and all the signs and wonders, but I do hope to make you see that small group discipleship is not just some rudimentary requirement that we keep because our church assigns us into groups. It is a great means by which we bring about transformation and healing that lasts in the lives of people.
Discipleship is not a boring task. It is a miraculous work of drawing people to God and teaching them to follow Jesus. The Holy Spirit moves us to be a witness (Acts 1:8) as much as He does to heal and provide. We need the miracle of small group discipleship to continue the work of God just as much as we need the work of signs and wonders.
